Hartmann Grasser was born on 23 August 1914 at Graz
in Steiermark. He fled Austria in 1934 for political reasons and settled
in Germany. In 1936, he joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Fahnenjunker.
At the outbreak of World War 2, Grasser was serving with JGr 152. Leutnant
Grasser was assigned to 3./JGr 152. He participated in the French
campaign shooting down a French captive observation balloon on 16 September
1939. His first victory over an aircraft was recorded on 24 September 1939,
when he shot down a French Curtiss Hawk fighter near Hornbach, although
he had to force-land near Bingen following this engagement. In January
1940, JGr 152 was redesignated I./ZG 52 and re-equipped with Bf
110 Zerstörer twin-engined fighters. In June 1940, I./ZG 52 was redesignated
II./ZG 2. Grasser flew with 6./ZG 2 during the Battle
of Britain gaining two additional victories to raise his tally to six.
In October 1940, Grasser was posted to the Geschwaderstab of JG 51 as adjutant
to Werner Mölders (115 victories, RK-Br, killed
in action 22 November 1941). On 1 December 1940, Grasser shot down a RAF
Hurricane fighter near Ashford. Oberleutnant Grasser participated in the
invasion of Russia. He recorded his initial victory in the new theatre
on the opening day of Operation Barbarossa when he shot down a Russian
SB-2 twin-engine bomber. He recorded two enemy aircraft shot down on 29
June 1941 to record his ninth and 10th victories. Grasser claimed a Russian
DB-3 twin-engine bomber shot down on 29 July to record his 20th victory.
On 1 August 1941, Grasser was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 51. He
recorded his 30th victory on 7 September, when he shot down a Russian I-61
fighter near Karlewez. Grasser was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG
51 on 4 September 1941 and awarded the Ritterkreuz for 29 victories. He
recorded his 40th victory on 14 December, when he shot down a Russian Pe-2
twin-engine bomber. However, on 24 January 1942, after downing his 45th
opponent, Grasser was shot down in Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 9204). He baled out,
landing behind Russian lines but despite a serious eye injury, was able
to make his way back to German lines. After a lengthy stay in hospital
recovering from his wounds, Grasser returned to the front to record his
50th victory on 23 June, a Russian I-153 biplane fighter. On 5 July
1942, he shot down six Russian aircraft (54-59), including three Russian
Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Grasser recorded his 70th victory on 13 August,
followed by his 80th victory on 29 August. His total had reached 91 when
he was moved away from the Eastern Front. In November 1942, Grasser led
II./JG 51 to North Africa. Over Tunisia, Grasser claimed 12 victories to
raise his victory total to 103. On 7 June 1943, Grasser took up a staff
post with 4. Jagddivision based in Paris. Major Grasser was awarded the
Eichenlaub (Nr 288) on 31 August. Grasser was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
of III./JG 1 based in Germany performing Reichsverteidigung duties on 28
April 1944. He replaced Hauptmann Friedrich Eberle (33 victories, DK),
who had been wounded in aerial combat with USAAF bombers and fighters.
His stay with the unit was a short one. He passed command of III./JG 1
to Hauptmann Erich Woitke (28 victories, killed in action 24 December 1944)
in May. In December 1944, Grasser was appointed Kommodore of JG 210. At
war’s end, Grasser was handed to the Russians and was incarcerated until
1949. Grasser died on 2 June 1986 at Köln.
Hartmann Grasser was credited with 103 victories
aircraft in 700 missions (about 200 mission and 4 victories with Bf 110
heavy fighter). He recorded 20 victories over the Western
front, including one four-engine bombers.
Included in the 83 victories he recorded over the Eastern
front are 13 Il-2 Sturmoviks.